Car-brake.



Np. 687,585. Patented Nov. 26, 190i.

J. SHELTON..

GAB BRAKE.

. (Applida-tion filed Feb. 18, 1901. (No Model.) l 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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No. 687,585. Pafentod Nov. 26, 'l90l. J.- SHELTON.

' GAB-BRAKE.

(Application fled Feb. 18, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

.(No Model.)

. \LQ M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN SHELTON, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO EDWARD P. BECKER, OF ST.'LOUIS, MISSOURI.

CAR-BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 687,585, dated November 26, 1901.

Application filed February 18 1901- Serial No. 47,757. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN SHELTON, of the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Brakes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates to car-brakes; and it consists of the novel construction, combination, and arrangementof parts hereinafter shown, described, and claimed.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved car-brake having the brakeshoes supported by hanger-castings attached to the truck-frame at the oil-boxes and having the operating devices supported above the trucks, so that they cannot be interfered with or disarranged by contacting with any object which may be on the track.

Another object is to provide an improved brake devoid of brakebeams and push-rods, which are essential parts of most brakes of 'ordinary construction at present in use.

Figure 1 is a view showing the bottom of a car having my improved brake in operative position. Fig. 2 is aside elevation showing the car-brakes having my improved brake attached thereto. Fig. 3 is an end View of the car. Fig. 4 is a perspective View showing one of the hanger-castings and the manner in which the brake-shoe is supported thereby "and operates. Fig. 5 is a perspective View showing one of the brake-shoes.

In the construction of my improved carbrake I provide suitable hanger castings adapted to be secured to the truck-frame near the oil-boxes, as shown, and which are provided with an upper arm 1, designed to support the brake-shoe, and with the lower arm 2, to which the operating-lever is pivoted. The said arms are of suitable length to normally support the brake-shoes out of contact with the wheels, so that they may automatically be drawn away from the wheels by gravity whenever theoperating-rods are released.

3 indicates the brake-shoes, which are supported from the arms 1 by suitable hangers 4:, which are of loose construction, so that the brake-shoes may swing freely away from the wheels whenever the operating-rods are rehanger-castings for each car-wheeh'and all of the said castings are identical in construction. The levers 6 of the outer brakes in each truck are extended inwardly at their upper ends and are bent double, as shown in Fig. 4, and carry between the bent portions the wheels or pulleys 7 the purpose of which will presently appear. To the inner ends of the inner levers are connected the rods 8, the outer ends of which terminate adjacent to the outer levers 6, and the chains 9 are connected to the said levers 8 and are passed around the pulleys 7. Connecting-rods 10 have their outer ends connected to the chains 9, and their inner ends are connected by a member 11. Itis manifest, however,'that instead of making use of a separate member 11 the rods 10 may be made integral with each other, having a suitable loop formed at the bend instead of the connection 11. To the connection 11 at one end of the car is attached a rod 12, the inner end of which is connected to a segment 13. The lever 14 is supported by the segment 13 and is pivoted at 15. The said lever 14 may be operated and locked in different positions by means of a suitable locking-pin 16, which passes through an opening in the segment 13 and through a similar opening in the lever 14. A rod 17 is connected to the member 11 at the opposite end of the car, and one end of the said rod passes above the segment 13 and is connected to the end of a lever 18. A rod 19 is connected to the outer end of the lever 18, and a similar rod 20 is connected to the end of the lever 15, and the ends of the said rods 19 and 2O support a connection 21. An operating-rod 22 is connected to the member 21 and to the usual brake-rod 23 at the end of the car. The said rods 19 and 20 may also be operated by a piston operating in the usual air-brake cylinder 24. These parts, however, are of usual construction, and hence require no detailed description.

25 indicates springs which have their inner ends connected to the members 11 and their outer ends connected to the bolsters, and their the wheels and will normally be held out of contact therewith by gravity, for the reason that the arms 1 extend a suitable distance beyond the edges of the Wheels to permit the brakeshoes to swing free of the wheels. From this it follows that after the brake-shoes are released they will automatically beremoved from the wheels and require no positive movement to draw them to their normal position.

The entire number of brakes may be operated simultaneously by moving the rod 22, which will operate the rods 12 and 17 through the connections above described to apply the brakes. To release the brake, it is only necessary to remove the power from the connecting-rods, as above described, to permit the rods 12 and 17 to assume their normal positions and the brake-shoes to be automatically drawn away from the wheels by gravity. The springs 25, however, may be made use of in case of necessity to assist in moving the brake-shoes away from the Wheels.

The construction of a brake of this character avoids the use of brake-beams and pushrods,which are essential to brakes of ordinary construction. Italso avoids the unnecessary weight and expense of these additional parts and permits the brake mechanism to be suspended above the trucks out of the path. of any object which may be on the track. By eliminating these parts the cost of the brake is greatly reduced, and at the same time it possesses all the advantages of those brakes of ordinary construction and may be applied with equal facility. No push-rods are required to release the brakes from the wheel, but

- they will be automatically drawn into posiwhen the operating-rods are released, sub-' stantially as specified.

2. In a car-brake, hanger-castings supported outside of the wheels, brake-shoes supported by said castings, levers pivoted to said castings below the brake-shoes and being-co n- .nected to the brake-shoes, and means for operating the levers to apply the brakes.

3. In a car-brake, hanger-castings supported outside of the wheels, brake-shoes supported thereby, levers pivoted to the castings and connected to the brake-shoes, pulleys carried by certain of said levers, chains connected to the other levers and passing around the pulleys, operating-rods connected to the chains, and an adjusting device at tached to said operating-rods.

4. In a car-brake, hanger castings supported outside the wheels, brake-shoes supported by said castings, levers pivoted to said castings below the brake-shoes and being con nected to the brake-shoes, suitable operating mechanism for moving the levers to apply the brakes and an adjusting device connected to the operating mechanism, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I aftix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN SHELTON.

Witnesses:

ALFRED A. EI'oKs, JOHN G. HIGDON. 

